Breaking: Senate Letter Outlines DME Access Concern; Contact Your Senators to Support! Small timeframe!
There is now a letter being circulated through the United States Senate that outlines the urgent reforms needed in the DMEPOS industry. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), two of the most engaged senators on DMEPOS issues, saw the attention and support the House letter on DMEPOS reforms received and stepped up to lead the charge in the Senate.
The letter addresses the key issue that impacts a vast number of independent providers across the country, which is the high cost of providing care in non-competitively bid areas.
The letter builds off the momentum generated by the House letter, which arguably was the pressure that led CMS to rescind the decision to implement complex rehab accessories into the competitive bidding program. As in the House version, the Senate letter will be sent to Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price and CMS Administrator Seema Verma.
VGM Vice President of Government Relations, John Gallagher added, "Providers are seeing a much more receptive HHS and CMS that are willing to listen to the concerns of providers and industry stakeholders. This new dialogue has led to quick action with CRT, and now providers have to keep the wheels turning for DME."
Now is the time to use the ground that was gained from the House letter, and providers can do that by reaching out to their senators to sign on to this bipartisan effort to support rural healthcare and DME. The letter will be available for senators to sign through the Independence Day recess. This gives the grassroots one week to acquire as many supporters as possible while the senators are back in the state for the holiday.
Call the local offices of both of your senators as well as the Capitol Hill switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
The deadline for Senators to sign on to this letter is July 6th! VGM and AAHomecare are working to extended that date. In the meantime, please spread the word to your members. Speak to their Senators while they are in their home states during the 4th of July recess.
Please call the local office AND the DC Switchboard if possible. You'll get different people answering on each end. The repetition is key. Please reply and let us know that you took action on this.
Call both Senators' Offices directly:
- Mike Lee: (801) 524-5933
- Orrin Hatch: (801) 524-4380
- Leave a message or let the assistant on the phone know you'd like the senator to sign onto the letter written by Senators John Thune and Heidi Heitkamp regarding DME reform.
- They'll say, "I'll pass that message along. Can I get your zip code please?"
- Say thanks, and hang up.
Call the DC Switchboard:
- (202) 224-3121
- Press 1 to be connected to the Senators' Office
- Put in your home zip code
- Pick a senator (do each separately)
- It will ring to the office
- Leave a message or let the assistant on the phone know you'd like the senator to sign onto the letter written by Senators John Thune and Heidi Heitkamp regarding DME reform.
- They'll say, "I'll pass that message along. Can I get your zip code please?"
- Say thanks, and hang up.
The deadline for signatures is July 6. Since next week will be busy with the holiday, please do this today or tomorrow. These policies affect the DME industry, and therefore, our jobs. Asking our Senate representatives to co-sign this letter is an effort to sustain the industry in which we work.
Please reply and let us know that you took action on this. We have power in numbers!